Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1789-1924 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more

Download & Play

Questions

Newspaper Page Text

ft,
Tint wmstav Hii.d tribune, 'into, Hawaii, tuksdav, ocToukr 31, 1905.
IN DARKEST TOKIO
WHERE THE MOBS GROW.
The Slums of the Mikado's Capital Tokio's Half Million
Poor How They Live Their Wretchedness, Star
vation and Squalor The Tragedy of Winter
The Limit of Poverty.
So ninny stories have conic from
the east of the beauties of the land
of the chrcsanthcniuni, that few
people arc aware that Japan, like
every other overpopulatcd center
has its limitations and its Hooli
gans. The world was startled to
learn of the popular uprising at
Tokio resulting from the unsatis
factory terms of peace made by Ja
pan's envoys at Portsmouth.
It was strange to picture Tokio,
the capital of the mikado, in the
clutches of a mob. From the day
the war began the world has been
fed with stories of the patient en
durance of a simple, law abiding
pcple, who loved their emperor and
who submitted to his very word.
The cable dispatches since reveals
Tokio in a new light. They
lifted the curtain on a new and
strange Tokio a Tokio that the i
world has not suspected.
It is well that the truth be known.
In no capital of the world does the
plummet sound deeper in the ocean 1
of poverty, wretchedness and hu-,
man woe than in Tokio. London
with its "submerged tenth" Paris
with its sewerjpeople with vicious
half fed humanity the groveling
Russians of Gorky's night refuges-
fail to equal the absolute wretched
ness of the slums'of JTokio, where
live half a million or more of the
starved subiects of the son of heav -
en too poor to own even the I less, he will eat raw with horse-ra-rags
they wear. I dish. He buys in driblets and like
In Tokio not fewer than 200,000 1 the poor in all the cities in the
people seldom, if ever, know of a) world, pays enormous prices. If it
certainty where the necessities of j has been a good day, perhaps he
the next day will come from, and will peep in at one of the tempting
throughout the land the great ma- cake shops, which smell so fragrant
jority are too poor to cat rice. The , to the weary and hopeless. How
high grade rice grown in the, is-ever, he will be, in all likelihood,
lands is exported almost to the last 'broke by this time and will con
sack, and inferior rice is imported tent himself listening to a story
for those who can afford it. Rice J teller relating the ancient glories of
is not in every bowl, as the tourists Dai Nippon.
fondly imagine. A recent visitor' "Had the pipecleauer returned
at Tokio writes: ' empty handed he would have hur-
"I have spent days and nights in ried to the pawnbroker, always
the midst of this inexpressible resi- at hand, and raise a few farthings
due of Japan in company with a on his precious brass pipe, his hiba
brilliant native sociologist who, chi, or his few garmets not in actual
like scores of his fellow students use. With the money he would
of men and things, believes that have purchased fish entrails or the
Japan has left its good days of gen- offal from horses used for food, and
er al happiness and general comfort perhaps a handful of scraps from a
forever behind and is entering up-: garbage barrel. With these he
on a sordid and merciless age of in-, would have feasted with his family
dustrialism, in which its people are 'and with them prayed that the gods
fitted by temperment to compete, ' might give him a better day to
and whose proletariat is, moreover, ( morrow, so that he can reclaim
far too intelligent and too proud to his goods.
be exploited by capital, lie is ' "The pawnbrokers fatten on
crying out a warning to Japan that these wretches as in no other land,
her seat at the council table of the It is impossible to escape them,
powers is being paid for in the blood and they never relent. Anything
of her citizens, not expended as 'that costs above 10 cents can be
they would pour it fourth cheer
fully in war, but in factory and on
farm, in shop and in office.
" 'Think for a moment,' he cried
last week as we looked at a Japan
ese battleship in the offing, 'what a
multitude of our tiny rice fields it
takes to support such a monster,
and then remember that our people
can't afford to eat rice!'
"Hut whether the last state of
Japan be worse than her first, let
us proceed to darkest Tokio. We
will visit the Shitaya quarter, which
is close by the beautiful Uyeuo
park.
"Tokio is so vast, it is an im
mense sea of sheds, that from the
highest point on the clearest day
one can see but a fraction of its area
but there are fifteen districts of
mean streets. The crazy struc
tures called houses, which are in
reality sheds, are strung along in
a series of dilapidated and filthy
cunumumum. 1 u .oik poor as
. ... fl. IV 1 .. .
tliosc who live there, cleanliness,
so dear to the average Japanese
ncau 11 is aoove gou.mess, isom O!
the question.
"The walls are decayed and full
of crevices and cracks, the roof
leaks, mid there is moss and broken
tiles, the shoji arc full of holes and
patched with newspapers, the mats
are ragged, dirty and moldy. There
is foul water in the streets and a
still fouler stench in the air, whose
source is often visible to the eye.
Frequently one sees dead rats in
the roadway, but for fear of the
plague they are quickly made
away with. After coming from
the dainties and delightful artistry
of well-to-do Tokio, Shitaya is the
abomination of desolation.
"The most tumble down of these
abodes may be rented for from 40
cents to 50 cents per month, but
there arc houses so fine that they
cost as high as 2 cents, or even 4
cents, a day. To afford one of
these expensive residences several
families club together, not alone
for economy but also for warmth, in
winter all hands crowding together
on the mats. Charcoal is not al
ways to be afforded, and heat is rt
great luxury these cold days. A
whole block will sometimes take
turns in warming hands at a hiba-
chi, where a few chunks of char
coal smolder in a bed of ashes.
"Suppose a pipecleauer has had
a good day and returns to his home
with, say, 12 cents. He will ex
pend it in farthing purchases of
miso, a kind of kind of soup stock,
'oil, fuel, tobacco, and perhaps a
1 little fish, which, if he feels reck-
pawned.
"Until mid winter one can exist
in Shitaya without bedclothitig, but
when the nights get cold, with the
fearful piercing frost of a Japanese
winter, some covering must be had.
Now appears another plunder of
the poor in the guise of the capita-
list who rents quilts by the night
II e charges and invariably col
lects, from 1 farthing for a shred
of dirty, patched old rag to a penny
or even 4 cents for a foul but heavy
covering. Then, too, there are
frayed silk quilts for the bridal
couple, but these are too costly to
be rented by many bridegrooms.
"Rent must be paid in advance,
and before the family go to sleep
the collector conies and gets either
the money or the quilt. With a
refinment of crueltv he does not
appear until the lessee has turned
in, and the loss of the quilt will
be doubly felt. There are heart
rending scenes when the penniless
)nothers strive to hold the
quilt to
protect their babes from the chill
and damp. Like the pawnbroker
n1(, Uu, n)oncy kmk.r thc qu
; (.m,er is nimy hcnrtcd,
i;ew of the inm)itants of Sh,.
taya ever gel enough money ahead
' to buy bed clothing, and the ghast-
ly tragedy of renting is re-enacted
when and again winter after
winter. Where there nte so many
children having but few rags,
that winter menus ncute misery.
"Nothing that was ever edible
can become too bad for the poor to
use. From this and similar quar
ters the scavengers go forth daily
in search of food, and they rake the
city as with n comb. Rack they
come at night laden with bad rice,
decayed fish and meat, scraps from
slop barrels, broken food from res
taurants, and all manner of edds
and ends.
"This second-hand food busi
ness has an extensive language of
its own, with special terms for every
kind nnd condition of edible junk
that is brought to the quarter.
This jareon is wholly unintelligible
to the uninitiated, and few there
are who care to learn the language
of the freezing and starving who
rent rags and dine on offal.
"Poverty has its ultimate ex
pression here its last word."
MOltK TltOUM.ti FOR POLAND.
Her Industries S Hirer as a Kesiilt
or tht Wnr.
According to United States Com
mercial Agent Harris at Ubenstock,
Germany, the industries in Rus
sian Poland have suffered more
from the war with Japan than any
other part of Russia. That is at
tributed to the fact that the Polish
provinces on the Vistula manufac
ture, to a large extent, certain ar
ticles which are dependent for a
market cither upon foreign coun
tries or distant parts of the Russian
empire. One-half of the inhabi
tants of Russian Pollaud is depen
dent upon house industries for a
living. These house industries
consist of the manufacture of shoes,
gloves, scarfs, neckties, shirts, hats,
underwear and ready made cloth
ing. There are whole cities in Pol
land, ns for example Bresiny, in the
district of Piotrkow, which are ab
solutely dependent upon the mak
ing of cheap, readymade clothing
for distant markets.
"Up to the outbreak of the war,"
says the report, "Siberia and the
Russian possessions on the Pacific
were the best markets for this in
dustry. Today there is practically
no demand for manufactured goods
111 any Russian territory in the far
east either directly or indirccily in
fluenced by the war.
"Another cause of the extreme
business depression in Russian
Poland is a too liberal use of the
long-credit system, which has been
participated in to the fullest by
both the manufacturer and mer
chant. At the outbreak of the
war those manufacturers who were
asked to meet the demands of their
foreign bankers were compelled to
force payments from their custo
mers. Such proceedure has made
its influence felt among every class
of the inhabitants.
"The crop failure in the Vistula
provinces in 1904. caused by the
long-continued drought, has also
produced much misery among the
peasant classes."
.Mystery of Hawaiian Well.
The freak of nature is described
in a recent number of Pearson's
Weekly:
A water well bored upon a plan
tation at Kealia, Kauai, Hawaii,
presents a new problem to the
world's scientists and they begin to
ask one another the question, "Does
the earth breathe?" The nrtesiau
well at Kealia has a tube thirteen
feet high surmounting the bore,
and in this at 8 o'clock in the morn
ing the water stood at a height of
eight feet recently.
Six hours later the water bubbled
over the top of the tube in a steady
stream. At eight o'clock the next
morning the water had fallen five
feet in the tube. This rising and
falling continued like clockwork
for so long as the tube was left in
the bore. It certainly wasn't caus
ed by the tide, for no tide in the
world is regular. Scientists know
this, and they want to fathom the
mystery of the regular rising and
falling of under-ground streams.
Subscribe for the Tkiuunk
' Island subscription $2.50 a year.
HKKF TIUIST.
Dulled Stales Urines Suit Against
Iteef .Monopoly.
The beef trust suit was begun Oct.
2 tst by United States Attorney
Hrcckons. The list of defendents is
a long and interesting one. It in
cludes many members of the legis
lature, including both the presi
dent of thc senate nnd sneaker of
the house, and many other promi
nent men.
The complaint alleges that the
various defendants are engaged in
the business of raising nnd mar
keting cattle and that the Metro
politan Meat Co. is engaged in the
business of selling it at retail, in
Honolulu, and that more than
seventy-one per cent of thc stock
of the Metropolitan Meat Company
is owned and controlled by other
defendents, also that all of the meat
company's officers arc elected and
controlled by the other defendants.
The United States of America is
named as plaintiff.
The defendents sued are the fol
lowing: Metropolitan Meat Co.,
Limited, an Hawaiian corporation;
Willian C. Achi; American Sugar
Co., Limited, an Hawaiian corpora
tion; Henry P. Baldwin: Henry P.
Ueckley; Cristel Ilolte; John Hroad;
Arthur M. Brown; Jacob I Brown;
Alfred W. Carter; Elmer E. Con
ant; John Cullcn; Samuel M.
Damon: Walter V. Dillingham;
Dowsett Company, Limited, an
Hawaiian corporation; The Water
house Trust Company, an Hawai
ian corporation, executor of the
Estate of W. II. Cornwell, de
ceased; Estate of John li, Limited,
an Hawaiian corporation; Charles
Gay; Francis Gay; A. Robinson;
J. R. Gay, II. Robinson and Mrs.
Alice Robinson, co-partners doing
business under the firm name and
style of Gay & Robinson, A.
Gomes; Mrs. A. C. Grccnwell;
Haleakala Ranch Company, an
Hawaiian corporation; Hawaiian
Agricultural Company, an Ha
waiian corporation; Robert R.
Hind; Harvey R. Hitchcock; Geo.
Holt; Robert W. Holt; Robert
Homer; Albert Horner; Humuula
Sheep Station, an Hawaiian corpor
ation; W. G. Irwin & Company,
Limited, an Hawaiian corporation;
D. P. R. Isenbcrg; James H. Ray
mond and Phoebe K. Raymond,
his wife; Christian Conrad; John
Doe Kays; Kaneohe Ranch Com
pany; Litnueu, an Hawaiian cor
poration; Eric A. Knudsen; Eben
P. Low; John S. Low; John A.
Magoon; Makee Sugar Co., Limit
ed, an Hawaiian corporation; John
A. Maguire; McBryde Sugar Com
pany, Limited, an Hawaiian cor
poration; Lincoln L. McCaudless;
John Doe McDougnll; Joseph P.
Mendonca; Otto Meyer; A. A.
Meyer: II. K. Meyer; II. P.
Meyer.; Julian Monsarrat; E. M.
Nakuina; Oahu Railway and Land
Company, Limited, an Hawaiian
corporation; John D. Paris; Annie
T. K. Parker, a minor, by her
guardian Alfred W. Carter; Samuel
Parker; Autone Perry; Puakea;
Aubrey Robinson; M. P. Robinson;
Richard C. Searle; R. W. Shingle;
William IT. Shipman; Francis M.
Swanzy; Lorriu A. Thurston;
Harry M. von Holt; Louis von
Tempsky; Gilbert J. Waller; John
Wright; Waterhouse Trust Com
pany, Limited, an Hawaiian cor
poration; Albert S. Wilcox; Geo.
Wilcox.
Combination of Figures.
You can find out the age of any
young lndy by using the rule given
below, which was worked out by
an intellegent Russian scholar dur
ing his banishment in Siberia, where
he was allowed his time 011 condi
tion of his remaining within cer
tain limits. His mathematical
skill excited the admiration of the
officer having charge of him to such
an extent that upon his recommen
dation he was pardoned and per
mitted to return home. Here is
the rule referred to:
Put down the number of the
month in which you were born;
then multiply it by 2; then ndd 5;
multiply it by 50; then add your
age; then subtract 365; then add
115. The two figures to the right
will denote your age, and the re
mainder the month of your birth.
For example, the amount is 822;
you are twenty two years old, and
were born in the eighth mouth
(August). Try it.
GltUF.Ij AM) UNUSUAL.
Compelled lo Kiss Wife, Twice a
liny or Pay Flue.
Norfolk, Vn., Oct. 14. Upon his
promising to kiss his wife twice a
day, Charles Perkins, who had been 1
fined $20 and costs for striking his
wife because she displeased him,
had the fine reduced by Judge C.
C Peed in Norfolk county to $2.50.
Herkius said it was easy enough to
kiss his wife when he left for work
in the morning, but thotmht that
to kiss her on his return from work
was a very different thing.
"And why is it any different to
kiss your wife in the morning than
in the evening?" asked Judge Peed.
"Because I am tired when I get
through work, nnd you see my
wife being considerable shorter than
I am I have to stoop down to kiss
her. It hurts my back to stoop
ofier I have been working hard all
day," declared the husband.
Judge Peed said that Perkins
would cither have to agree to kiss
his wife both in the morning and
the evening or pay thc full fine of
$20 and costs, and thc man said he
would do as the court directed in
the matter.
tuDumutory Ulieu milt ism.
Any one who has ever experienc
ed the excruciating and almost un
bearable pains incident to inflama
tory rheumatism, will be pleased to
know that prompt relief may be
had by applying Chamberlain's
Pain Balm. Mr. D. Snyder, of
Rooseville, Ontario, Canada, says:
"I have been troubled with infia
matory rheumatism for the past
two years and unable to sleep at
night. I have taken many reme
dies but must say Chamberlain's
Pain Balm is the best liniment I
have ever tried." For sale by Hilo
Drug Co.
Notick Neither the Masters nor
Agent of vessels of the "Mntson Line"
will be responsible for any debts con
tracted by the crew. R. T. GUARD,
Agent.
Hilo, April 16, igol 14-
THE HENRY WATERHOUSE TRUST CO.
LIMITED.
Agents
London Lancashire Firo Ins. Co.
National Firo Insurance Co.
Niagara Firo Insurance Co.
Gorman-American Firo Ins. Co.
Pennsylvania Firo Insuranco Co.
United States Fidelity Guaranty Co.
Continental Casualty Co.
H. VICARS,
WHEN
IN
HONOLULU
STOP
AT
THE
NOAH W. CRAY
Managor
The hotel is a beautiful stone-front, steel-framed, up-to-date fire-proof
building. Corridors, toilets and bathrooms ure nil wainscoted with Tennes
see marble.
All rooms are elegantly furnished and excellently well ventilated.
Gentle breezes waft through corridors and sleepiug-rooms day and night.
This hostelry, of already world-wide fame, opened n little over two
years ago, has been favored by patrons from all parts, who unite in the
opinion that its service, its silver and cutlery, its linen, its china, its crystal,
etc., are equal to those of the best hotels anywhere.
WATl'.R A thrce-iuilliou-gallou-a-day nrtesiau well of one thousand
feet in depth supplies abundance of delightfully soft wnterof high chemical
purity. Mvery room in the building has hot nnd cold water. All the tuble
water, as well as that supplied to the rooms for drinking purposes, is distilled.
HOTI5L PARM The excellency of the table is much enhanced by this
hostelry possessing its own farm, where, from a fine herd of Jersey cows, an
abundant supply of milk and cream is obtained; a fine lot of poultry pro
duces eggs mid nice broilers; a lot of choice runts produce the delicate squab
required; suckling pig nnd young pork are produced by a herd oi fine Derk
shire hogs, Presh fruit and vegetables of nil kinds are dnlly supplied from
this farm; frogs and mullet from the ponds are also supplied daily.
ROOK GARDHN On the fifth lloor, in centre section of building,
there is n ROOI' OARDP.N of one-third of nu ucre in urea, furnished with
beautiful shrubs; seats nnd tables ure interspersed and refreshments are
served by active nnd obliging waiters nil day nnd throughout the evenings.
Awnings are provided for shelter and band concerts are frequently given.
At one end of this garden there is n lnrge dance pavilion, while at the other
end there is u similar room fitted with all the comforts for n lounging-room,
where billiards and other games nre enjoyed by ladies and gentlemen.
l'roni the Roof Gnrden the whole of the city and surrounding country,
with the sea on one hand nnd the verdure. clnil mountains on the other, pre
sent a panorama of tropical beauty which for grandeur cannot be surpaswed.
Long-distance telephone in every room.
Cable Address "Young's," Honolulu
American and European Plan
SPECIAL RATES TO ISLAND PEOPLE
GRAND
FAIR
AND
Thanksgiving Day
November 30th
For tho Bonoflt 1
J Hilo Boarding School J
New Building
r
1
THE
WIRELESS
GIVES
UNEXCELLED
SERVICE
Prompt
Delivery and
Accuracy
Guaranteed
FOR RATKS, ULAN'KS, 1JTC.
APPLY TO
E. E. RICHARDS
AGIJNT INTI-R-ISLANI) TKLE
GRAPH CO., HILO.
Hilo Representative
LllAU
Alexander
Voting
hotel
m
6$